- development of a new wild flower meadow within the grounds with the help of grants from Tesco’s and Co-op awarded to Friends of Suntrap to develop the meadow and establish bee hives on site
- Cllr Peter Herrington (Waltham Forest) helping to sow the meadow in April and returning in July, along with other invited guests to “open” the meadow, and dedicate a memorial bench for Suntrap’s first Head Teacher, Ken Hoy MBE who sadly passed away in January aged 92
- setting up two new monthly clubs for children; Be Wild for 5-12 year olds and Suntrap Squirrels for pre-schoolers
- running new outdoor learning training courses for teachers and early years practitioners
- delivering 10 new bushcraft and animals academy holiday programmes for teenagers from Waltham Forest
- Visiting 16 Waltham Forest schools during the Easter and summer holidays with the Suntrap animals
- Running 24 camps for schools from Waltham Forest and beyond
- Visits from 52 different schools throughout the year, making 340 class visits
- Welcoming over 500 visitors to our open day in October enjoying everything from pond dipping to craft activities to campfire cooking
- John Muir Award achieved by home schooled group
What a great 50th anniversary year we have had, highlights have included;
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Sir David Attenborough has helped us to celebrate 50 years of teaching school children about nature and ecology by sending a letter of congratulations (pictured left). This year marks 50 years since LBWF acquired Suntrap from the banking family Baring at a cost way below market value to be used for educational purposes. To mark this special anniversary we are developing a new wild flower meadow within the grounds. Cllr Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Suntrap has a unique history in the borough, and thousands upon thousands of young people have visited this wonderful spot over the last 50 years. Many people I speak to still have very fond memories of their visits and for many it was the first taste of the countryside they had ever had… To receive a letter of congratulations and support from such a legendary environmentalist and broadcaster is the icing on the cake.” The letter says "Congratulations to the staff of Suntrap and the London Borough of Waltham Forest on fifty years of inspiring children with a love of nature and a respect for the natural world. Best wishes, David Attenborough." Ken Hoy MBE, Honorary President Friends of Suntrap, one of the Founders, Past Chairman and Vice President of the Friends of Epping Forest, Freeman of the City of London
It was with great sadness that we learnt that Ken Hoy who did so much to develop environmental education both locally and nationally passed away last Saturday. Ken grew up in Peel Road, South Woodford, where the garden of his house adjoined the forest which he quickly grew to love. He wrote of being “euphoric” after being offered the post of Field Studies Teacher at Jubilee Retreat in 1962, following nine years as a teacher at Whitehall School. It was in 1967 that Ken became the first Head of Suntrap and supported by Cate Hickling received the first classes at Suntrap, having worked hard for months preparing the semi-derelict former hospital for its first groups. His philosophy from the start was that anything the children did on their visits to the Forest should be of educational value as long as these activities could not be undertaken at school. In those very early visits at Jubilee Retreat, 20 children were put on a bus (without their teacher) and Ken had sole charge of them until he put them back on the bus to return to school. The LBWF Education Office (“The Office” as he put) left Ken to devise his own programme and way of working. He set a high standard, bringing recognition to the Borough as one of the foremost leaders of environmental education, providing quality outdoor learning to every pupil in the Borough. Within a few years every child in Waltham Forest was taught at Suntrap on a regular basis for one year of their primary schooling, learning right across the curriculum, from maths and art to geology and history. Learning about the natural world was inevitable and in this field Ken was an expert. 50 years on Suntrap tries to keep to this way of working as devised by Ken – albeit children are now accompanied by their teachers! I was very pleased to be appointed to take up his mantle and it was of great value to get to know him and gain from his experience as Honorary President of Friends of Suntrap. I went to see him in December and was able to let him know about our plans to mark 50 years of Suntrap, including developing a new wild flower meadow in the Suntrap grounds. I think he was really pleased with our plans and that children and families are still coming to Suntrap to learn more about Epping Forest. Kerry Rolison Head of Suntrap – Traded Services London Borough of Waltham Forest Suntrap Forest Education Centre Church Road, High Beach, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4AJ 2017 will mark 50 years since Waltham Forest bought Suntrap. Since the early 1960s Fred Speakman, Ernie Douse and later Ken Hoy had been providing "field studies" for schools in Walthamstow. However there was accommodation for only one class per day and the class had to be divided between two sites in the forest at High Beach and Jubilee Retreat. As more and more schools wanted their pupils to enjoy these visits to the forest the new London Borough of Waltham Forest started talks with the City of London Epping Forest Committee to build a purpose built centre at Jubilee Retreat. It was at this time that the owners of Suntrap wanted to offer the building as a gift to be used for a socially useful purpose. Waltham Forest instead bought the building and its 7 acres of land - albeit for a nominal £500. The first classes came to Suntrap in October 1967. How to mark and celebrate 50 years of environmental education at Suntrap? We have decided to develop a new habitat within the grounds and so have been working hard over the last few weeks to transform an overgrown area of the camping field into a wildflower meadow, which should have its first flowers blooming by summer 2017. Last week volunteers joined with staff to clear the bramble and thistles which had taken over the area which is going to become the meadow. The bramble was cut and as much burnt as possible. The next job will be to clear any small tree stumps and plough the ground - this will take place in early February. Then on 17th April we will have a family event to sew the grass and wildflower mixture. By mid-summer we should have a beautiful new habitat for both animals and families & children to enjoy. What a great way to celebrate 50 years of environmental education. We recently added an arachnid to our animal collection - this is a tailless whip scorpion. They have eight legs but only use 6 for walking, the other two are used as long sensory "feelers". Do you recognise this fascinating animal from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
The Forest is beautiful in the winter. Go for a walk, paddle in the stream, run through the leaves and try to spot a robin. Don't forget to wrap up warm!
Great fun was had on Saturday night by the families who joined us for the annual lantern making event. Children painted their designs onto glass jars, before placing a lit tea light inside. Each family then walked through the dark garden (their way lit by more tea lights) arriving at the warmth and light of the bonfire. Hot chocolate or warmed spiced apple juice was enjoyed along with a burger, before everyone had the chance of roasting marshmallows on the glowing embers of the bonfire. As part of the free holiday activity programme run by Waltham Forest, teenagers had the chance to learn bush craft skills at Suntrap. Some of them had a go at making a wooden spoon. It is a long process, requiring lots of patience. For those who persevere the results are rewarding. Thanks to funding from the London Borough of Waltham Forest we have been very busy during the last few weeks delivering training on using the outdoors to enhance learning, especially ideas to use within school or nursery grounds. Teachers and practitioners from across the borough have joined in enthusiastically with the training, including problem solving challenges involving eggs or water, using stick to teach maths or how pebbles can help children tell stories. Thanks to all who took part in the training with such enthusiasm.
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SuntrapRaising Achievement Outdoors Archives
December 2017
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